On the first leg of Van Halen’s A Different Kind of Truth tour, toward the end of the band’s set, there was a moment during the middle of Eddie Van Halen’s solo spot in the show where the world seemed to stop spinning. Even the techs, security staff and backstage production personnel would stop what they were doing to focus on the celestial sounds emanating from the stage, with huge smiles on their faces that mirrored Ed’s beatific grin as he unleashed a staggering cascade of notes. At that particular point in Ed’s solo, it was clear that there was no place in the world that they’d rather be.

This month, in anticipation of metalcore stalwarts As I Lay Dying's forthcoming release, Awakened (which is due for release on September 25), we're giving you the chance to ask guitarists Phil Sgrosso and Nick Hipa anything you want!

A new book about guitar legend Randy Rhoads is now available from Velocity Publishing Group. The 400-plus-page, 7-pound book by Steven Rosen and Andrew Klein features hundreds of rare photographs and chronicles an oral history of Rhoads' life through the words of the people who knew him best. The book is packed with poignant stories about the guitar icon.